Valverde to lead Movistar in Tour de FranceJanuary 28, 2014 (17:00) [ Indexed from New Zealand Herald ]MADRID (AP) Spain's Movistar says Alejandro Valverde will be its lead rider in this year's Tour de France, while Colombian Nairo Quintana will be top rider for the Giro d'Italia.In a statement Tuesday the team says both riders... More...

Valverde to lead Movistar in Tour de France (The Associated Press)January 28, 2014 (16:00) [ Indexed from Yahoo! Sports ]Spain's Movistar says Alejandro Valverde will be its lead rider in this year's Tour de France, while Colombian Nairo Quintana will be top rider for the Giro d'Italia. Team manager Eusebio Unzue said Nairo was still too young to tackle the Tour and the team thought it best to ''keep him growing into the formation.'' Unzue added that Valverde will ride in next week's Dubai Tour for the first time, the team's first incursion into the Middle East, he said. More...

Cycling-Runner-up Rodriguez dejected after Valverde lets Costa go (Reuters)September 29, 2013 (20:15) [ Indexed from Yahoo! Sports ]By Julien Pretot FLORENCE, Italy, Sept 29 (Reuters) - Joaquim Rodriguez lost out to Portugal's Rui Costa in the world championships road race on Sunday but the Spaniard could be forgiven for also thinking he was beaten by compatriot Alejandro Valverde. Valverde, who finished the 272.3-km race in third place, failed to cover Costa's decisive attack 1.5-km from the finish before the Portuguese caught Rodriguez and outsprinted him to the line. Had he followed on Costa's wheel, Valverde could have "sandbagged" his rival - sat behind him and toyed with his nerves. ... More...